Understanding and Recognizing Love: The Signs to Look Out For
Love is a word that many of us use so often without taking the time to truly understand its meaning. What is love?
How does it feel like? And how do we know when we have found it?
These are the questions that we often ask ourselves when it comes to this perplexing emotion. So, what is love exactly?
It can be defined in various ways, but at its core, love is an intense feeling of attachment or affection towards someone. It’s a willingness to do anything and everything to make them happy and to support them through thick and thin.
But how does love feel like? It’s easy to confuse love with attraction or infatuation.
The truth is, those emotions can feel similar to love in the initial stages of a relationship. However, true love is more stable and grounded.
It’s not just based on physical attraction; it’s based on a deeper connection and understanding of each other’s inner selves. And how do you know when you have found real love?
It’s when you see effort and commitment to the relationship from both parties. It’s when you’ve gone past the honeymoon phase and can still see a future together.
It’s when you’ve truly connected and can rely on each other through good and bad times. Now that we have a better understanding of what love is all about let’s explore the signs that indicate you’re truly in love:
Signs You’re Truly In Love:
1. Waking Up and Going to Bed With Thoughts of Them
When you’re in love, it’s natural to think about your partner all the time. They are always on your mind, even when you’re doing other things.
You find yourself daydreaming about them during your daily activities, or you’re constantly checking your phone to see if they’ve called or texted.
2. Can’t Stop Staring at Them
When you’re in love, you can’t help but stare at your partner. You find them incredibly attractive and can’t resist looking at them.
When you’re together, you feel a strong sense of attraction towards them that you can barely control.
3. Feeling Some Jealousy
It’s normal to feel a twinge of jealousy when you’re in love. You don’t want anyone else to have what you have with your partner.
However, this jealousy should never be controlling or abusive. It should be a healthy feeling that indicates your desire to have exclusivity and commitment in your relationship.
4. Introducing Them to Friends and Family
When you’re in love, you want everyone to know about it. You’re proud of your relationship and want to share it with your loved ones.
You want to integrate your partner into your life and make them a part of your family and friends.
5. Empathizing With Them
Being in love means that you care about your partner’s emotions and well-being. You want to help them through their struggles and offer support when they need it most.
You feel for your partner on a deep emotional level, even when you haven’t experienced what they’re going through.
6. Changing for the Better
When you’re in love, you become more motivated to improve yourself. You want to be the best version of yourself for your partner, and you want to grow together as a couple.
You’re more likely to take on personal growth projects and make changes to improve your life together.
7. Imagining a Future Together
When you’re in love, you can see a future with your partner. You’re not just living in the moment; you’re thinking long-term.
You make plans together and look forward to spending your lives together. You can dream and make goals together, and that’s a sure sign that you’re in it for the long haul.
8. Prioritizing Them Over Other Activities
When you’re in love, you want to spend as much time as possible with your partner. You’re willing to make time for them, no matter how busy your schedule is.
You prioritize them over other activities and obligations because they are an essential part of your life.
9. Willing to Explore Things You Otherwise Dislike
When you’re in love, you’re more open to new experiences, especially if it involves doing things with your partner. You’re willing to explore activities or hobbies that you ordinarily wouldn’t try because you enjoy spending time with your partner.
It’s a fun way to bond and build a stronger connection.
10. Time Flies When You Are With Them
When you’re in love, time seems to fly by when you’re with your partner. You could spend hours talking or doing nothing at all, and it feels like time has passed in a matter of minutes.
It’s a sign that you’re comfortable and relaxed in each other’s company, which is essential for a healthy relationship.
11. Feeling Unusually Optimistic
Being in love makes you feel happier and more optimistic in general. You have an upbeat outlook on life and feel like nothing can bring you down.
It’s a positive effect that your relationship has on your overall mindset, and it’s an indication that it’s a healthy relationship.
12. Craving Physical Closeness
Physical touch is an essential aspect of a romantic relationship. When you’re in love, you crave physical closeness with your partner.
A hug or a kiss can make you feel at ease and bring you closer together emotionally. It’s a sign that you’re intimately connected with your partner.
13. They Can Do Nothing Wrong
Being in love means that you accept your partner’s flaws and love them for who they are. You don’t hold them to impossible standards, and you don’t get upset when they make mistakes.
Instead, you forgive them quickly and focus on their positive qualities instead.
14. Wanting Them to Be Happy
When you’re in love, you put your partner’s happiness first. You want to see them happy and fulfilled, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
You support them in their goals and aspirations, and their happiness is your happiness.
15. Liking Sharing Things With Them
When you’re in love, you enjoy sharing your life with your partner. You want them to be a part of your daily activities and enjoy doing things together.
It can be as simple as going grocery shopping together, or it can be a significant event like a vacation. Sharing your life with your partner is a sign that you’re committed to growing together.
16. Emotional Dependency
Being in love means that you’re emotionally dependent on your partner. You rely on them for support and comfort, and they do the same for you.
It’s a healthy type of dependence that strengthens your relationship and makes you feel more connected to each other.
17. Reordering Interests
When you’re in love, you adjust your interests to make room for your partner. It doesn’t mean that you give up everything you love; it means that you learn to compromise and integrate your partner into your life.
You adjust your priorities to fit your relationship better.
18. Feeling Safe
When you’re in love, you feel safe and secure with your partner. They make you feel protected and comfortable, and you trust them completely.
Feeling safe and secure is essential for building a healthy and meaningful relationship.
19. Trusting Them
Trust is a fundamental aspect of any relationship, and it’s especially important when it comes to romantic relationships. When you’re in love, you trust your partner completely, and they trust you.
You can be vulnerable with each other because you know that you’re in a safe place.
20. Being With Them Feels Easy
When you’re in love, being with your partner just feels easy. You’re comfortable and relaxed in each other’s company, and you can be yourself without fear of judgment.
Being with your partner should never feel like hard work; it should feel like a natural and effortless part of your life.
In conclusion, love is a complex emotion that we all experience differently.
It’s essential to understand what genuine love means and the signs that indicate when you’ve found it. Knowing the signs can help you distinguish between infatuation and real love, as well as help you build stronger and healthier relationships.
Remember, love is a journey, and every relationship is unique. Embrace the journey, and enjoy it with an open heart and mind.
In conclusion, understanding and recognizing love are some of the most important aspects of any relationship. To know and experience genuine love, you need to look for signs that indicate that you and your partner are on the same page.
From waking up and going to bed with thoughts of them, to feeling safe and secure when they are around, there are different signs at different stages in a relationship. Recognizing these signs will help you distinguish between real love and infatuation, as well as build and maintain healthy relationships.
It is a journey, so appreciate every single moment. And when you have found true love, cherish it, nurture it, and let it grow because it’s one of the most significant things in life.